Apparatus for producing gas



Nov. 16,1937. A. P. VAN HEEDEN 2,099,150

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS Original Filed May 51, 1927 2 Sheet-Sheet l A firI/Iur 1. M22? fieecleiz, W. J3

2 Sheets-She at 2 A. P. VAN HEEDEN la 729765;.- WA

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE' APPARATUS, non rnonuomo' Gus Arthur Ryan Heeden, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Universal-Oil Products Company,- Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware application, Serial No. 195,193, filed May 31, 1927, now Patent 1,900,141, March '7, 1933.

My invention relates to an apparatus for producing gas from hydrocarbon-containing solid or semi-solid materials such as coal, coke, wood, charcoal and the like.

My invention relates more particularly toan apparatus for producing gas in gas-generators in such a. manner that the gas producer can be brought to effective operating condition, within a time materially less than the time usually necessary. The apparatus object of my invention permits efficient use of gas produced from the hydrocarbon-containing materials heretofore listed in connection with power 'or heating installations where the power must be developed almost instantaneously, and my invention particularly permits theme of the gas produced to develop the power of automotive engines and for general heating purposes. It will permit the application of gas economically to new industrial uses such as heating, domestic and industrial uses, driving automotive and stationary engines, etc. Means now employed for the ignition and starting ofa gas generator are relatively inemcient and time-consuming and the lack of a suitable device by'means ofwhich this gas production can be started quickly and brought to full efliciency within a short time is one of the main reasons for not using this inexpensive supply of an eflicient fuel in a more extensive manner.

Among the advantages of my invention are; to shorten the time necessary for producing gas in gas generators; to operate and control the production of gas in connection with and in proper timingwith the operation of the device in which the gas is used; to providev for a controlled method and device whereby the gas generator, and the apparatus in which the. gas produced is used, can be controlled in a simple manner; to proyide for an apparatus whereby the power whichpcan be recovered from the gas maybe controlledin connection with the requirements ofthe apparatus in which it is used, whereby theworking efliciency of the apparatus may be automatically controlled,

and in a general manner to provide for an apparatus of the improved character hereafter de scribed. v 1

Otheradvantages of my;in-vention will appear from the following description: d In the attached drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagram-,

matic and schematic view, partly. in section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus which can be used to carry out my invention, which Ihave 4 Claims. (01.1

This application is a division of my-copending shown as applied to the productionbf gas for use in an engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the ignition device. a Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the switch taken on lines 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the switch.

The various connections and devices used, and. 'which I have shown in the drawings and describe hereafter, are not to be taken as a limitation of the scope of my invention, and it is understood that other devices whereby the herein described method may be carried out are well within the .scope 'of my invention. I describehereafter and show in the drawings the application of. the in-.

vention to the production of gas for use in engines, but as I have heretofore stated, the application of my invention to the production of gas for other 'uses, such as heating and industrial purposes, etc., is well within the scope of my invention.

,Referring more in detail to the drawings, I designates a gas producer which may be of any desired construction and which may comprise preferably a cylindrical metallic wall 2,'lined with refractory material .3, provided at a point intermediate its height with an internal circular projection 4, which is provided for limiting the hot partial combustion zone. A grate 5, may be positioned at the bottom of the cylinder l,

through which the air for draft-is injected inside the producer and the gas producer is mounted above an ash pit 6, provided with cleaning door I.

The lower portion of the cylindrical metalwall 2, v preferably comprises a hollow jacket 8, surrounding the combustion zone and protected therefrom by heat radiating material, shown at 9. This jacket'8 may be provided at its upper portion with air inlet openings I0, distributed around the periphery of the jacket whereby air required for the combustion of the fuel in the gas producer grate 5, by the heat of the partial combustion zone, through the radiating walls 9. The air in-.

'may be preheated, before passing though the be provided with caps l I, to prevent irregularities in the draft. It is well understood that dampers I may be provided in the air inlet flues or openings l0, so asto control the proportion of air admitted to the producer. I The metal wall 2 surrounding the upper poption of the gas producer and separated from the lower air preheating jacket 8by. means of partition 12, may also comprise a hollow jacket which be provided with an exhaust pipe 2| controlled is used for preheating the water to be used in vapor form for injection in the gas producer. Water may be introducedinto the zone formed between the ,wall 2 and refractory wall 3 through 5 pipe 2' controlled by valve 3'. By this arrangement freezing of water may be prevented when. the device is used in open air as in automotive engines. At the same time, as the water is preheated, the upper portion of the gas producer is cooled, which provides for an'easier handling of the fuel and apparatus; The gas producer is provided atits upper portion with feed bin l3, closed at its lower part by charger 14, which may or, may not be automatically operated. Steam for gas production may be injected into the combustion zone through injecting pipe l5, which may be covered with a cap Hi for better diffusion of the steam through the combustion zone, and this cap It, may be. made of a catalyst such as nickel or the like, for accelerating the conversion of'the,

' steam into its chemical components.

The gas producer I may be provided with a gasoutlet pipe 11, which may be controlled by valve Ila, and which may be connected to any point of the gas producer, but preferably below the cir- 'cular projection 4. This pipe may direct the gas to a gascleaner', such as shown in a conventional" mannerat l8, from which the gases, after being cleaned, may be withdrawn through pipe l9 and directed to the cylinders of the engine shown diagrammatically at 20. The cleaner or purifier 18 may be of any desirable type, or it may be dis-.

, pensed with entirely when the gases from pipe ll pass directly to the engine.

The upperportion 2| of the gas producer may by valve 22, thepurpose of which will be hereafter .mo're fully explained. At the lower portion of the gas producer below 40. the grate 5, is positioned an ignition device desig- 50' The restricted portion 28, can be provided with ports as shown at 23, each port forming a smallsized conduit diagonally disposed in the wall of the tube 24. The inner opening of the ports in' the inside of the tube 24 is preferably at the point 5 of .therestrlcted portion 28, 'so that the air passing through the ignition device from the pipe 21 to the end 25,inside the gas producer, will cause suction on the ports 29 througl'iwhich fuel may be drawn in, asvvill hereafter be described. The 1 '.ports 28, of which anynumber'may be provided on 'zhe periphery of the tube 24, may be connected to e main supply of. liquid fuel as will hereafter be described through pipes 30, each pipe 30' being a continuation of each port 29. -5 The air and liquid fuel mixed at the outlet of the restricted portion 28 are mixed and intimately combined by being passed through a screen 3| 'of 'fine mesh positioned a short distance'in front of the air andliquid fuel mixing'point. This screen [0 may take any desired form but I have shown, as

a preferred form, a conical screen, the base of whichiscat'tached or welded to the inside wall of the tube 24'. The screen 3| also serves to prevent back firing when the gas is diverted from the receiver where it is used, as will bedescribed later.

After passing through the screen, the intimately mixed fuel and air pass across spark -32, obtained by passing electricalcurrent through spark plug 33, said current being furnished through wires 34 and 35. The fuel is thus ignited and the flame low the entire surface of the grate. The lip-like opening 36, may alsoserve as a means for discharging any solid particles which might enter the device during the operation.

The air tube 21, connected to the ignition device as above described, may be connected atits other end with an air blower 31, which may be of any desired type, and which is actuated through gear, or belt and pulley connection by electric motor, 38 which is preferably of the variable speed type. The motor receives the current required for its operation through wires 39 and 40.

The circuit through which the current is furnished to the ignition device 23, through wires '34 and and to the motor 38, through the wires 39 and 40, comprises a source of electrical current which may be of any type, such as storage battery or dry cell battery, etc., and which has been diagrammatically shown in the drawings at 4|, and

each of these circuits is provided with switch or interrupting means to open or close the circuit.

As one of the features of my invention, I have shown and described hereafter, a preferred form of switch, represented in Fig. 1, at 42, and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. This is an interruptingswitch. as 'well as a timing switch, whereby the succeeding steps required to operate the gas generator can be set in operation in the desired succession and order, and also with the proper timing. in relation with each other to produce the results desired.

Referring back to the ignition device 23,.the liquid fuel, injecting pipes 30 may be connected to'a manifold 43, on which is interposed a liquid fuel supplycontrol valve 44, and a flow regulating valve 45, which is preferably hand'controlled and the manifold 43 is connected to a liquid fuel storfilling means 41, and drains 48.

1 The control of the spark 33, is preferably provided for by means of a timer or buzzer diagrammatically shown at 49 and interposed in the cir age tank shown at 46, provided .with suitable cuit of the spark on wires 34 and 35. I haveillustrated a timer type where the timing of the buzzer type with induction coil is used, the spark timer is simply'interposed on the electrical circuit of the lines 34 and 35 without jconnections to themot0r.

Asa further feature-of myinvention, the control of the valve 22 on the upper exhaust pipe 2|, the control'of the liquid fuel supply control valve 44, and the control of the ignition device through air blower and spark are automatically timed in'relation to each other by combining the control of each of these steps or parts, at a single main switch 42, above referred to, whereby simplicity and safety in 'the operation of the device are obtained.

In this switch are thus combined the mechanical and electrical control, to-wit': mechanical control for the opening and closing of the valves 22 and 44 and the electrical control of the currents going to the motor 38, for air blowing'into the ignition device, and to the spark of said ignition device.

The conductor 34, part of the spark plug circuit and the conductor 40, part of the motor circuit, are connected independently to two points of the switch 42, as will'hereafter be described. The conductors 35 and 39 which are part of the spark plug and motor circuits as heretofore mentioned'may be connected in parallel to one of the poles of the battery or other electrical source 4!, through conductor 50, and the pole of the electrical source 4| is connected to another point of the switch 42, through conductor The switch 42, which may be of any desirable type, and which I have shown as of the disc and lever type, may comprise a semi-circular disc 52, at the center of which is provided movable lever 53. The lever 53 is fixedly attached to the shaft 54 which passes through the center of the switch disc 52, and is rotatable therein, The

shaft 54' may have a projection on which may be positioned and fixedly attached two cams 56 and 51. In the design described here the cam 56 is of smaller diameter than the cam 51, and is positioned in relation with the cam 51 in such a manner that, at one end of the course of the lever, cam 56 will begin to work before cam 51,

of the lever. In the design herein described, the end of the course of the lever at which cam 51 acts before cam 56 corresponds to the dead point and to the shutting oif of the ignition device or starter, while the gas generator is itself shutoff or working, and the other end of the course of the lever over the switch 52 corresponds to the full operation of the ignition device and to the opening of the exhaust valve 22, in order to permit the starting of the gas producer and the exhausting of the air present in the gas producer. In the meantime, and while going from the dead end of the operating end of its course,

the lever actuates successively and in the order hereafter described, the various steps and mechanics of the ignition and starting device. On the periphery of the disc 52 of the switch are marked six points which may be indicated by a notch and shown in the drawings at A, B, C, D, E and, F. For convenience in the understanding of the operation, the notch A corresponds to the nonoperative position of the ignition device and the notch F corresponds to the full operative-position of the ignition device.

Beloweach cam is positioned a shaft respectively designated at 58 and 59, the top of which may be provided with small rollers 66 and 6|. Each shaft is positioned relative to the corresponding cam, so that when the cam comes in contact with the roller, it forces the shaft down.

' The shaft 56 actuated by cam 56, is connected at 4 its other end with the valve 44, controlling the admission of the liquid fuel to the ignition device 23, while the shaft 59 actuated by cam 51, is connected at its other end with the valve 22, controlling the exhaust pipe 2!, the downward motion of the shafts 58 and 59 opens the valves and the upward -motion closes them; the upward -motion of each shaft is obtained when the cam concentric circular electrical contacts respectively designated at 63, 64 and 65. Each contact respectively occupies only a portion of the length of the arc described on the semi-circle by the lever 53, and further, each contact. may be connected with one of the electrical conductors 34, 46 and 5!, heretofore described. More particularly in the design shown, .the contact 63 is connected to the battery 4| through conductor 51, or to other sources of current. The contact 64 is connected through the conductor 40 to the motor 38, and the contact 65 through the wire 34 is connected to the spark plug circuit. A contact brush or bar 66, is provided and properly insulated in the lever 53, in such a position that it may come in contact with the three contacts, 63, 64 and 65. simultaneously.

The three contacts are suitably insulated from each other, and from the surrounding metal parts. It is thus apparent that, through the brush .66, the battery circuit 5| can pass from contact 63 to the motor circuit and to the spark plug circuit through contacts 64 and 65, which may be in contact with the brush 66 at the same time.

It is to be noted that the motor contact 64 and the battery contact 63, cover the same are on the switch and go from the notch C to the notch F above described, while the spark contact 65 covers a shorter arc and goes from the notch D to the.

notch -F. Thus, when the lever is between the notches C and D the current only goes to the motor circuit and the motor-38 and blower 31 operate. notches D and F, the current goes to bothcontacts 64 and 65, thus, the current goes to both the motor circuit and spark circuit, and the motor blower and spark all work.

The cam 56 has been shown asof a smaller diameter than the cam 51 for the reason that the cam 56 is connected to the liquid fuel control valve 44 while the cam 51 is connected to the control valve 22 on the producer gas outlet pipe or vent 2|. Since gas outlet valve 22 is prefer- When the lever 53 is between the ably larger than liquid fuel control valve 44, a

The operation of the switch his, as follows:

When the-lever 53 is in engagement with the notch A, one of the ends of the cam 51 is in contact with it and forces down the shaft 59, thus causing the valve 22,- on the producer gas outlet pipe or vent 2 I, to be opened. All other connections from the switch are cut off orv closed. This permits, as will be hereafter more fully explained, formation of gas in the gas producer and operation of the latter while the engine or utilizing means for the gas is at rest.

When the lever 53 is in engagement with the notch B there isno contact between the three electrical circuits, the cams are inoperative and this corresponds to the dead point. At this point either the gas producer has not been started at all, and no gas is produced, or a normal production of gas takes place in the gas producer in operation after the starting device has been used, and the gas goes to the engine or other device for utilization. M When thelever 53 is in engagement with notch .0, there is contact between the battery and the motor and blower circuits, which causes operation of the blower and a forced draft of air'is established through the ignition device 23, into the gas producer below the grate 5.

, When the lever 53 is in engagement with the;

notch' 0, contact is 'estabu hec'throuah were motor-blower and through the spark circuits. No other action is taking place at that time except the injection of air through blower 31 and the production of the spark at 3' These two contacts continue when the lever moves from the notch D to the notch E, and when the lever is 'in engagement with notch E, the small cam 56 has come in contact with the. shaft 59 and has forced the latter down completely, causing the opening of the liquid fuel supply control valve 44 from tank 46 to ignition device 23.

It is to be noted that hand-control valve 45 is continuously open, but the size of the opening of said valve 45 is hand controlled independently, thus controlling the amount of liquid fuel which is allowed to pass out from tank 46. Thus, when the lever is at point E of the switch, and the spark and blower are operating, suction of liquid so that the ignition device continues to operate in the same manner and when the lever comes into engagement with F, the larger diameter cam 51, has come in contact with the shaft 58 and has forcedit down, causing the opening of the gas outlet valve 22 on the exhaust pipe 2|, which permits the gases caused by the operation of the ignition device during the starting period to be evacuated until full production is obtained.

As an important feature, the air-present in the gas producer if the latter was not in operation, is permitted to escape through the opening of the valve 2-2, practically at the time when the ignition deviceis started, by moving the lever 53, from the notch E to the notch F, and the combustion gases first formed at the start force this air out through the exhaust pipe 2|.

This method and device permit a complete control of the-gas producer from nonoperating position or from suchoperation, as consists in slow production of gas without utilization of said gas in an engine or otherwise, to full operating position.

It is possible to start and bring ,the gas producer to full production in an extremely short time; or to stop the utilization of the gas for heat or power for any length of time, minimizing the fuel consumed and the time required to bring the engine back to operation by keeping the gas producer on a slow production during that time. It is alsopossible, when the gas is. not used, but where the gas producer is left in j operation, to decrease the production of gas by regulating the suction oi. air through the gas producer to aglowing pointer to any degree As anotherjfeature of my invention, while I have provided for n. normal air draft, i. e., a selfg'enerati'ng method for producing gas, through 'the air ports ID, in Fig". 1,-it may also be possible to force the production of gas in the generator to a large increased peak or overload by operating the blower. in connection'with the normal draft.

Itcan thus be seen that the method and ap aratus of myinventionmay be utilized for a great many applications, including stationary engines,

automotive engines, propelling of automobiles,

boats, locomotives, for industrial and domesticf in the pipe 2|, permitting the air present in the gas producer to be forced out through the gas shutting off the gas producer, this will be done by heating purposes and for any purpose wherein gas can be used forpower or heating means.

I will describe hereafter, 'as an illustration, the operation of the gas producer in connection with an engine. Taking first the gas producer and engine in a nonworking position, the gas producer is first charged with fuel such as coal or other carbonaceous material through hopper B. The air ports I flare open, but valve "a on the gas main from the 'gas producer to the engine isclosed. The valve 45 on the liquid fuel suction line to the ignition device is opened. The lever of the switch 42 is brought from the point B to the point C which, as heretofore explained, starts the blower and forces air under the grate 5. Immediately afterward, the lever is brought to the point D which starts the spark in the ignition device without cutting out the blower, and immediately the lever is switched to the point E where fuel is sucked into the ignition device as heretofore described, ignition of fuel takingplace: and causing start of the blast in the gas producer.

Immediately afterwards, the lever 53 is switched to the point F, which opens the gas outlet valve 22 outlet pipe by means of the production of 'gas taking place at the bottom of the gas producer. The natural and forced drafts thus produced, permit instantaneous combustion of the fuel in the gas producer and almost instantaneous production of gas to the full capacity of the producer;

According to the character and quality of the fuel used in the gas producer, the time necessary to secure full production ofgas from the moment the blower is started, may vary, but with 9. normal fuel, and in normal conditionsof operation, 20 to 30 seconds, more or less, may be sufficient to bring production of gas to its full degree. A small gas sampler may be provided on the exhaust pipe 2|, whereby the characteristics of the gas can be determined. When the hot gas shows .at the sampler, which is a sign of full efiiciency bein I reached, the valve Ila on the gas main from the gas producer to the engine is opened, the lever 53 is suddenly brought back to the point B passing. over the points E, D and C inorder, which causes closing of the gas outlet valve 22, then closing of l the liquid fuel valve 44, and interruption of the current in the spark'33'and finally stoppage of the blower 31. From this time on, the gas producer operates through self-generated draft and the gases go to the engine for utilization. If it is, at

any time necessary to force draft through the gas bringing the lever down to the point A, which causes the opening of the exhaust pipe 22 through switch as heretofore described. 70

tion of valve 41a, and the closing of valve Ila cor- 75 responds to the shutting off of the current at the engine spark while the opening of the valve Ha would correspond to the opening of the current to thespark. However, it is easily understood that the valve Ha may be entirely dispensed with; the closing or opening of the current to the spark of the engine being suflicient to render posmay be combined on the same switch.

I have described in connection with the operation of my method for the generation of gas, certain types of devices. It is understood that any other type of device may be used' wherein the proper control of the various elements is maintained in relation with the phases described herein for-the operation and in proper time in relation with each other.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a gas producer, a gas gen-v erating section therein adapted to retain a solid carbonaceous fuel, gas outlets from said producer, a valve in one of said outlets, means comprising a blower for introducing a combustion supporting medium into said gas generating sec tion, means in communication with a source of supply for introducing a combustible fuel into said producer, a valve in said latter means, means for igniting said combustible fuel, and manual control means adapted to initiate self operation of said producer comprising means movable to actuate concurrently and independently, the blower, said fuel'igniting means and the valve in said gas outlet and said combustible fuel supply means.

2. In combination, a gas producer, a gas generating section in said producer adapted toretaina solid carbonaceous fuel, gas outlets from said pro-' ducer, a valve in one of said outlets, means comprising a blower for introducing a combustion supporting medium into said gas generating section of. said producer, means for supplying a combustible fuel under pressure to said producer at a point below and in communication with said gas generating section, a;va lve in said combustible fuel supply means, electrical igniting means for said combustible fuel, and means to initiate automatic operation of saidproducer comprising unitary control means manually movable to actuate concurrently and independently the blower, said igniting means and the valve in said gas outlet and said combustible fuel supply means.

3. In a gas producer for generating gaseous fuel from solid carbonaceous material, the combination of means including an air blower for introducing air to the producer, fluid fuel supply means discharging into the producer, a valve in the fuel supply means, an ignition device for igniting the fluid fuel issuing from the last-named means, and. a manually operable control switch and means associated therewith for actuatin said blower, valve and ignition device.

4. In a gas' producer for generating gaseous fuel from solid carbonaceous material, the ,com-

, bination of means including an air blower for introducing air to the producer, fluid fuel supply means discharging into the producer, a valve in the fuel supply means, an ignition device for igniting the fluid fuel issuing from the last-named means, an outlet pipe for venting air from the producer, a valve in said pipe, and a manually operable control switch and means associated therewith for actuating said valves, the blower and the ignition device.

ARTHUR P. w n HEEDEN. 

